Learning what 10 acres in the foothills of East Tennessee has to teach as I trudge clumsily back to the land.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

A notorious fake in the compost bin

Imagine my surprise when I dug into the bowels of my compost bin to find a bright and shiny SunChips bag. This is the famous "WORLD's FIRST 100% COMPOSTABLE CHIP PACKAGE" by Frito Lay.

I remember buying the bag of chips last summer thinking I could help "green the world, one bag at a time" as the package states. I bought only the one bag because when you went to close it the sound was similar to firecrackers going off in your hand. This feature made it very difficult to have those midnight snacks without anyone hearing it.

I dutifully tore up the bag and proudly placed it in my compost bucket. Last October after only a few months on the market Frito Lay announced the bag was being discontinued due to the irritating noise it made.

So, this bag rested in my compost bin for a least nine months and then came out as shiny as a new nickel. (I took a photo of the bag only after rinsing off some of the debris.) This is the same compost pile, mind you, that reduced hundreds of coffee filters, hard-as-rock decorative gourds and even a few misplaced chicken bones to a crumbly humus.

I hope the Frito Lay marketing genius who came up with this "green" concept is made to stand in the corner -- a corner filled with to the ceiling with rich black compost, no less.

About Me

After a career in newspapers and living in suburbs and cities all of our lives, my wife and I moved to a heavily wooded 10 acres in the Deerfield community of Louisville, Tennessee. We eagerly learn what this 10 acres has to teach.

Enlightenment

Barn Rules

If you unlock it, lock it back.If you open it, close it.If you borrow it, return it.If you don't know, ask.If you drive it, check the oil.If you lose it, replace it.If it doesn't concern you, don't mess with it.If you turn it on, turn it off.If you break it, fix it.If you move it, put it back.If you throw it down, pick it up.If you ride it, feed it.If it drinks water, give it some.If you fall off, get back on.